Nigeria’s crude oil production has climbed above its Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) allocation, reaching a 15-month peak in May 2026 as improved operational stability and uninterrupted upstream activities boosted output across major oil facilities.
Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission shows that average crude production stood at over 1.53 million barrels per day during the period, representing about 102 per cent of Nigeria’s 1.5 million barrels per day OPEC quota. When condensates are included, total national output rose to approximately 1.70 million barrels per day, strengthening Nigeria’s position as Africa’s leading oil producer.
Brandspur Banking News Desk reports that the performance reflects a sustained upward trajectory in the sector, with crude and condensate production recording steady month-on-month gains from February through May 2026. Output rose from 1.48 million barrels per day in February to 1.54 million in March, 1.66 million in April, and 1.70 million in May, marking the strongest level recorded since mid-2025.
Further breakdown of production shows that Bonny Terminal led output streams with about 293,870 barrels per day, followed closely by Forcados at 289,900 barrels per day. Qua Iboe contributed 173,360 barrels per day, while Escravos and Odudu (Amenam Blend) delivered 135,470 and 63,250 barrels per day respectively, underscoring the dominance of key export terminals in national crude flows.
Authorities attribute the improved performance to stable upstream operations, with no major pipeline breaches or facility shutdowns recorded during the month under review. The completion of scheduled maintenance activities across critical infrastructure also supported consistent production levels and reduced downtime across oil fields.
The May output represents the highest combined crude and condensate production since July 2025 and the strongest crude-only performance since January 2025, signalling a 15-month high for the country’s oil sector and reinforcing recent recovery trends in upstream efficiency.
The sustained increase is expected to positively influence government revenue inflows and foreign exchange earnings, even as Nigeria continues to work toward addressing long-standing challenges such as crude theft, pipeline vandalism, and underinvestment in the oil and gas industry.
